But First Let Me Take A Selfie

Health and fitness has never been my strong suit, I have been more of the scholarly type throughout my life, ok nerdy type I admit. But as I’ve gotten older it has become apparent that I need to do something about my health situation. So I have made efforts to be healthier, eating better, no sodas (oh how I miss Dr. Pepper), and then there’s getting a gym membership and actually using it!

Not too long ago, into my excercise journey, I had a strange experience at the gym. I was out of town and not able to go to my regular place, so I had to use the hotel’s fitness center. Usually these centers are pretty small and don’t have a lot to offer, which is why I usually slack when I’m out of town, plus I tell myself, “I’m on vacation, why work out!” But I mustered up the motivation to go down to the gym and put in some work.

After a few minutes into my workout, this young guy came in . He looked like the in shape, like he knows how to work out, so what happened next kinda surprised me. He never touched any machine or weight, and simply started posing and taking selfies, something he could have done (and should have done) outside the gym. But many people go to the gym to try and create the illusion that they are making progress, yet in reality all they are doing is taking selfies. They get the membership at the beginning of the year, and try to look busy without really knowing what they are doing.

Christians have the bad habit of doing the same thing. Awhile back I remember the hashtag “#churchflow” had become pretty popular, and basically you’d take a selfie of you in your Sunday’s best at church, thing is I often saw these posts were put up during church! They were more concerned with people knowing there were there, than actually taking advantage of the service.

The weird thing is, like someone who always eats fast food and wonders why the 2-3 workouts aren’t making much progress, if we continue to simply come to church without loving it out it does us little good. We will see no results, no change, no difference in or around us if we aren’t doing our part in our faith.

Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬
His point here is that God does work in us, but when are working out our salvation. Yes we believe in being saved by grace, and there is nothing else that can change that, but if there is no evidence of that faith, that grace of God what good is it. So what can we do? Here are some quick tips that I have learned help me live out my faith:

1) Study on your own time

Don’t just go to church, takes notes, take time to read and look for what you can apply or change in your life.

2) Get help

You don’t have to do this on your own, that’s why we get together as a church. We need to encourage each other, and pray for each other, this helps motivate you too because you know you aren’t in it alone

3) Serve

There is no better way to work out your faith than to get involved. Find a place to serve in your church, whatever you feel you can do or wherever they may be a need. God with open your eyes to new truths when you get involved.

Change will not come, if we do nothing. Only when we move in action, can we see a difference in our lives, and will we meet with God where He is working. It won’t be easy, but with God on our side, there is nothing we can’t handle.